Do you have a tough time choosing between dry cat food and wet cat food for your furball? Regardless of how adorable cats are, it is a significant responsibility to care for them as a cat parent. It also includes providing them with the proper nutrition.
These days you quickly get cat food online; you have many options at your fingertips. Selecting from these multiple options can be very confusing. Here is an assessment of dry cat food versus wet cat food to make your life easier.
Dry food vs Wet food
When you walk into any supermarket or buy cat food online, you get taken by various options of cat foods – dry, wet, and canned, but how do you select the best option? To simplify this, let’s understand how cat food can be classified based on water content to streamline this.
Wet cat food has over 60% water content, while dry cat food has less than 14%. There is another category, the semi-moist category. It has water content between 14% and 59%, mostly limited to cat treats.
Wet Cat Food
Although perishable once opened, wet cat food has a longer shelf life. If unopened, wet cat food can last for years. However, once opened, it should not be left out for more than an hour to prevent the growth of bacteria.
The high-water content of wet cat food makes it a great way to improve the cat’s water intake. Moreover, if the cat faces health issues such as kidney or urinary tract diseases, wet foods are the right option.
Besides these health issues, diabetic cats should also be fed wet food. It is also a good option for older cats with dental troubles.
Pros of Wet Food
- Suitable for health issues such as constipation, urinary tract diseases, diabetes, and kidney issues
- Low in calories with a longer shelf life
- Easy to chew for old cats and improves water intake
Cons of Wet Food
- Slightly expensive than dry food
- Perishable once opened
Dry Cat Food
Dry cat food has more carbohydrates and less protein than wet cat food. Therefore, dry food has more energy density than wet food.
Although cats require protein-heavy diets, they can live healthy even on dry food. Since dry food can be left out all day, it is suitable for cats who love to eat little all day.
Dry food is not suitable for obese cats. Moreover, if your cat is on a dry food diet, you must ensure proper water intake.
Pros of Dry Food
- Easy and convenient to serve
- Affordable
- Long shelf life
Cons of Dry Food
- Low water content
- Less protein than in wet cat food
- Not suitable for older cats with dental issues
- Cats may tend to overeat since dry food can be left out all-day
Almost 27% of Australian homes have pet cats. Since cats are neophiliacs, they like trying new things.
It is best to feed them a combination of both wet and dry food. While it keeps their meals interesting, it will also regulate their water intake. Now that you get cat food online, you can try out multiple options to keep things interesting for your four-legged furball.
